News

As of Jan. 1, 2024, after nearly four decades, Laura Silvagni will move her workshop from Corso Garibaldi to Via Sant’Ippolito 23/A, in the historic location of La Vecchia Faenza, where she will continue her work as a ceramist specializing in Raphaelesque and Flemish flowers decorations.

The “Laura Silvagni” workshop opened at Corso Garibaldi 12/A in 1985, but Laura’s workshop pottery business had started in 1977, after a few years as a decorator… right in La Vecchia Faenza!

I was not even 20 years old when I started working at La Vecchia Faenza: It was here that I trained as a ceramist, gaining the awareness that led me to open my own workshop. From ’77 to the present I have had several locations, from Via Della Valle to the last one, in Corso Garibaldi, in which I have carried on the traditional decoration of Faenza ceramics with great commitment and passion. Today re-entering La Vecchia Faenza on a permanent basis is a definitive homecoming for me, the closing of the circle opened in 1967 that nothing detracts from my being a ceramist, but it simplifies the management of a business that these days needs to be more streamlined -“smart” they would say today- and devoted to new channels: once there were fairs and events, today there are web and apps.

Laura Silvagni

Laura entered the “new digital world” early with her characteristic curiosity and passion, opening the website in 2009 and e-commerce in 2011, among the first potters to do so. She has always seen in digital an opportunity, a way for Faenza ceramics to be seen and known in Italy and around the world. And it is with this desire that from January 1, 2024, she will continue her work as a ceramist in the spaces of La Vecchia Faenza.

La Vecchia Faenza was founded in 1967 on the initiative of Gino Suzzi, who became passionate about a trade that few people did in those years: the ceramist!

Years have passed since then – as many as 56! – and Gino never thought he would have to face so many calamities that affected his work (Gulf War, financial crises, pandemics, etc.), among the latest the war in Ukraine and even the flood, which as you well know also reached the store.

But here’s Gino, nothing gets him down! Today as then, he proudly pulls the still-warm pottery from the kiln.

Finally one of the three ovens has been repaired and, after three long months, we are restarting production!

Brushes in hand, let’s pick up where we left off. With some difficulty, because as the work progresses we realize that some things are still missing, but the satisfaction of seeing the first pieces cooked is great!

It seems significant to us that the first decorated ceramics are house numbers, which we have been producing for over 50 years! A simple, but concrete and indispensable piece, almost a symbol of the restart of the citizens and the city of Faenza.

On the weekend of 2nd and 3rd September you will find us in the squares of the historic center of Faenza together with 100 other ceramists from all over Italy for “Made in Italy”, the Italian ceramics exhibition-market.

Walking through the streets of the city center will be like traveling through the different Italian ceramic traditions, where craftsmanship, art and design mix to create objects of various kinds, for the home or to wear.

Made in Italy will also be events: the calendar of appointments will be communicated shortly on the event website www.madeinitalyfaenza.it.

With great satisfaction we can say that we have reopened, the new ceramic exhibition is ready to welcome you! You can find us as always in Via Sant’Ippolito 23/A, in our historic headquarters in Faenza.

In this long, long month, we have cleaned, disassembled, reassembled, moved… an incredible job, which was only possible thanks to the help of all the friends, collaborators, volunteers, whom we can never thank enough!

Our first restart goal is almost completed: to rearrange the exhibition, to have at least a welcoming and colorful place, which will give us the right push to proceed gradually with the restoration of production.

There are still so many things to do, but this first goal gives us courage.

An infinite thank you to everyone from Elisa, Laura and Gino.